Monday, October 1, 2012
Week#45: In May of 1938 there was no mail delivery, no newspaper and only 2 phones in Greendale, almost a communications blackout. First postmaster Edward Bengs stays on the job for almost 30 years.
History records and explains past events, while folklore preserves what people widely remember. History and Folklore! Postal delivery, telephones, and newspapers were all well-established services in 1938. But when the first residents moved into the newly built government community of Greendale these services did not exist, they had to be established. This communications blackout should not be overstated. Most of the residents had jobs in the surrounding cities in order to qualify to reside in Greendale. So contact with the ‘outside world’ was not exactly cut off. Looking back, this isolation from the normal modes of communication proved to be valuable building block for the beginnings of Greendale. Mail Distribution: In the early pictures…
Monday, September 24, 2012
Week#46: Learn about some of the historic houses in Greendale. Also, the 'secret weapon' behind many of the 75th Birthday Countdown stories is revealed.
History records and explains past events, while folklore preserves what people widely remember. History and Folklore! This week is the beginning of a series on some of the historic houses in Greendale. The first house in the series was on one of the farms purchased by the federal government. Some of the farm’s land is still Greendale, but the farm house is now the Ross Lodge. Here’s the story: Ross Lodge - in Whitnall Park - 6750 S. 92nd St. - Greendale, WI 53129 This charming, white two story farm house is tucked away in the Mangan Woods Preserve of Whitnall Park. It is an overnight rental facility, handicap accessible, for the Milwaukee County park system. The deeds to this farm start in 1840 and show various owners up to 1936. That is …
Monday, September 17, 2012
Week#47: Seventy five (75) years after Greendale was started, it continues to be a great place to raise a family. But this New Deal experiment was controversial and opposed by many as communism.
History records and explains past events, while folklore preserves what people widely remember. History and Folklore! Once final approval was received, the construction of Greendale began immediately. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was put in charge and began hiring unemployed workers who were on relief. These developments were reported by the Milwaukee Journal newspaper: MJ 5/25/36 – “Excavation for the foundations of 38 residences in Greendale, resettlement administration project near Hales Corners, was started Monday with a force of almost 700 men. according to Fred L. Naumer, regional coordinator for the RA,” MJ 6/1/36 “Nine hundred workers were put to work on the resettlement administration’s Greendale project near Hales …
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Week#48: The Greendale Entertainment Association is formed by Community minded residents to preserve the tradition of celebarting Greendale's Birthday with Village Days.
History records and explains past events, while folklore preserves what people widely remember. History and Folklore! Village Days is held on the second weekend in August annually and provides the community with a venue to come together and celebrate Greendale’s birthday. This tradition started in 1958 and for many years the Greendale Lions, the American Legion Post 416, the Jaycees, and the Village Promotions Committee organized the event. Staples of the event were the Legion corn roast, the Lions food tent, the Lions rummage sale, the Jaycees beer tent, and entertainment at the Lions and Jaycees areas. Of course there was the Village Days parade, and sometimes fireworks. Then after the 1995 celebration one of the participants, the …
Monday, September 3, 2012
Week#49: The Department of Public Works keeps Greendale ‘Still Sparkling After All These Years’. Anthony ‘Bud’ Konsitzke served the longest in this extraordinary Village Department.
History records and explains past events, while folklore preserves what people widely remember. History and Folklore! At the most recent Greendale Village Board meeting, Village President John Hermes commended all of the Departments for their efforts and said the Village was “looking tall” during the recent Village Days weekend. This sentiment was echoed by the entire Board of Trustees. We sometimes take for granted the beauty of Greendale and the way the Village services run smoothly for the enjoyment of all the residents. We get to do that because the employees of the Village Departments don’t just do what their job requires, they put their spirit into their duties. One department in particular, the Department of Public Works, makes sure…
Monday, August 27, 2012
Week#50: Prohibition had ended in 1933 and the Greendale planners included a tavern in the design. Managing the tavern for the Greendale Co-Op was a family activity for the Kendellen’s.
History records and explains past events, while folklore preserves what people widely remember. History and Folklore! "There is a tavern in the town, in the town And there my true love sits him down, sits him down, And drinks his wine as merry as can be, And never, never thinks of me." -Writer unknown. Anyone living in Milwaukee has probably heard the first verse of this polka several hundred times, at weddings, picnics, festivals and almost any other occasion. Today we don’t think twice about having a tavern in the Village Center of Greendale. But in 1936 when planning the building of Greendale, it was not necessarily a given to have a tavern. Only three years earlier it would have been illegal for anyone, much less the government, …
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Week#51: Whitnall Park borders Greendale on the west as part of the master plan of the Milwaukee County Park System. Learn how European history contributed to the desire of our national and local leaders to preserve green space.
We’re back! Many of you noticed that last week we did not publish a story, but it was for a good reason. The Greendale Village Days celebration, on the second weekend in August, is the biggest event of the year. Those of us who work on these stories also belong to the organizations that work to make Greendale’s annual birthday party the huge success that it is. Last weekend the weather was perfect and it was fun. And the organizations running the show did not disappoint. The Family Entertainment Area had a new look and some new games the kids really enjoyed. The Greendale Lions tried out a Milwaukee tradition, the Friday Night Fish Fry, which debuted to rave reviews. The American Legion provided everyone’s favorite summer treat, corn on …
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Colorful green flags provided by Manchester Investments decorate Broad Street in preparation for the 75th Diamond Celebration in 2013.
Did you noticed the new green flags on Broad Street for Village Days? No, well check them out. Teri & John Bill of Manchester Investments don't need any encouragement to get in the party spirit. They have genrously provided the 75th Diamond Celebration flags that you see for this year's 74th Birthday Party. It is only 52 short weeks until the grandest party of them all, Greendale's 75th Anniversary Party. You'll see these flags again for Village Days 2013, August 7th thru 11th. If you see Teri or John, thank them for their special contribution to this year's Village Days celebration and helping us get ready for 2013. Go Greendale!
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Week#52: Travel along with Jean to her favorite place in Greendale...Scout Lake. Learn about the short history of this lake property.
History records and explains past events, while folklore preserves what people widely remember. Places, People, History, and Folklore! Hello, everyone… You may notice that I am not Dave Miller. He’s taking a well-deserved vacation from this column but will be back next week with more stories about Greendale’s colorful characters and history as we count down to the Greendale's 75th Diamond Celebration. In a departure from Dave’s usual column, this week’s article is mostly a travelogue for my favorite site in Greendale, with a little bit of history mixed in. It’s a quiet respite from the hectic pace of daily life, and seems to be one of Greendale’s better kept secrets. Scout Lake Park is a 64 acre tract of land that is part of the Milwaukee …
Monday, July 30, 2012
Week#53: Greendale Youth Football one of the many activities that make Greendale a great place to raise a family. Jerry Meyers is one of the many volunteers who have the ‘Greendale Spirit’.
History records and explains past events, while folklore preserves what people widely remember. History and Folklore! It’s no secret that Greendale is a wonderful place to raise a family. You hear it from long time residents who raised a family in Greendale, from former kids who grew up in Greendale, and from kids who grew up in Greendale, moved away, and then moved back once they started a family. But what specifically does ‘a great place to raise a family’ really mean. Well, part of the explanation can be attributed to ‘Greendale All-American Youth Football Team, Inc.’. Huh you say? Football? Let me explain. This younger generation is the ‘connected’ generation. They walk around looking like creatures from outer space, with wires coming …
Michael Hart
10:29 am on Monday, October 1, 2012
I am the youngest of Kathleen's children, and that was one of the best articles I have ever read regarding my Mom. I have since moved to Florida with my wife and have 3 beautiful kids that miss their Grandma very much. Thank you so much for writing about her, she deserves all that and then some. It was also very informative, I did not know most of those facts about her. And your wife is right, … more ›